Electric sewing-machine outfit



Jan. 31, 1928. 1,65%,883

F. DIEHL ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE OUTFIT INVENTOR wmetssgs ATTORNEY Jan.31, 1928.

1,657,883 F. DIEHL ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE OUTFIT Original Filed Oct. 81925 2 Sheets-$heet 2 I NVENTOR J' WM BY I WITNESSES Patented Jan. 31,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK DIEHL, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

ELECTRIC SEWING-MACHINE OUTFIT.

Original application filed October 8, 1925, Serial No. 61 ,170. Dividedand this application filed October 18,

1925. Serial No. 63,527. r

This invention relates to a sewing machine table of the so-calledlibrary type which, although specially constructed for the support andoperation of a sewing machine, has the neat and graceful appearance of alibrary table when notin use, with nothing conspicuous to suggest itsrelation to machinery.

Sewing machine tables of this character have heretofore commonly been ofthe drophead type; i. e., adapted to support the sewing machine headwith its cloth-plate substantially flush with the table-top in such away that it can be lowered into a cavity in the table through an openingin the tabletop when not in use. The sewing machine head of a drop-headoutfit is not adapted for portability and is intended to remain at alltimes attached to its supporting table.

To meet the requirements of the trade for a portable sewing machinewhich may be transported as hand-baggage, it has been customary toprovide a hand-carrying case for the sewing machine head, such casecomprising portable base and cover sections with releasable means forsecuring the cover to its base section. To operate a portable sewingmachine it is usual to station it uponan ordinary table; whereby thecloth-plate of the machine is elevated above the surface of the table adistance equal to the thickness or depth of the portable base.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means forsupporting, operating and controlling a sewing machine of the portabletype, such means being in the nature of an accessory to a portablesewing machine which may beused to afiord, in connectionwith suchportable sewing machine, operating characteristics heretofore inherentin drop-head outfits only. Other objects of the invention will in partbe obvious and in part behereinafter more fully described.

To the attainment of the ends in View, a sewin machine table, preferablyof the four legge type having no cross braces or tie rods between thelegs, is provided with an aperture in its top to removably receive thebase-section of the machine carrying case which rests upon supportingmeans so spaced below the table-top that the sewing machine cloth-plateis substantially even with the the pedal.

table-top, as in a drop-head outfit. A manual control mechanism for thesewing maohms motor is permanently installed in the table and preferablycomprises a treadle ele ment detachably connected with the lower end ofone of its legs, which latter is preferably of hollow or longitudinallychanneled construction to receive and conceal an operative connectionextending upwardly from The manual control mechanism, whatever its formmay be, is connectible to and .disconnectible from the usual motor-com 5troller in the portable. base section of the sewing machine, andpreferably includes a connection projectible across and below an edge ofthe table-top aperture into a hole in the portable base section of thesewing machine, whereby withdrawal of such connection removesallobstruction to removal of the machine and its portable base from thetable. The control mechanism is of lightweight non-bulky constructionand is unencumbered by connecting wires. Furthermore its operativeposition relative to the table is fixed, and consequently is easilyfound by the operator. Still further, there is no danger of tippingitover, as in the case of a portable foot controller which rests upon thefloor.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectionthrough a library table sewing machine outfit embodying the invention.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, partly in section, of theparts shown in Fig. 1. Fig; 3 is a'view on the line 3, 3, Fig. 1,, withthe sewing machine removed. Fig. i is a fragmentary view of the parts,similar to Fig. 1, but showing the connection to the sewing machinecontroller as broken. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the guide for theshiftable connector element. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of theshiftable connector element. .Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing theshiftable connector element in operative engagementwith the controllerrock-shaft. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the lower end portionof the hollow leg of the table. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99, Fig.8.. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the detachable pedal memher; andFig. 11 is a disassembled perspective view of the pedal shaft, cam-shaftand cam-shaft bearing.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a sewing machine table havinga top 2 and detachable legs 3, 3, end walls one of which is shown at 4:,front wall 5 and rear wall 6, the space within such walls constituting acavity within which is mounted the sewing machine supporting shelf 7.The legs 3, 3 are removably secured by screws 3 to the iron braces 3"which join the ends of the table skirt members or walls a, 5 and (l. Thesewing machine, which is of the portable type, comprises the usualsewing head 8, motor 9 and hollow wooden base member 10 of the usualcarrying case. The motor 9 is preferably constructed and mountedsubstantially in accordance with the disclosure in the Diehl et al.Patent No. 1,488,- 234, of March 25, 19211. The base member 10 of thecarrying case is received within the aperture 11 in the table top 2 andhas mounted within it a controller or rheostat 12 preferably of thecompressible carbon pile type disclosed in the application of D. H.Chason, Serial No. 750,734:, liled Nov. 19, 1924, and in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 61,170, filed Oct. 8, 1925, of which thisapplication is a division. Such a controller includes a metal base 13having at one end an upstanding wall 14 carrying a bearing 15 for thecontroller operating rockshaft 16. For the purposes of the presentdisclosure it is sufficient to explain that a limited rocking movementof the shaft 16 varies the electrical resistance of the rheostat 12connected in the circuit of the motor 9 and thus controls the speed ofsuch motor; the speed of the motor increasing when the rock-shaft 16turns in one direction and decreasing when it turns in the otherdirection. The shaft 16 has fixed thereon a collar 17 having a tooth 18and is accessible through the aperture 16 in the portable base 10. Thesewing machine and motor, together with the base 10, rest as a.removable unitary assembly upon the shelf 7; the base 10 being receivedwithin the aperture 11 in the tabletop with the upper surface 19 of thebase flush with the table-top.

Concealed within the hollow leg 3 is a rod 20 which slides in bushings21, 22 and the lower end of which rests upon the flat camface 23 of thecam 24 journaled in the hearing sleeve 25 set into the horizonalaperture 26, Fig. 9, at the lower end of the leg 3. The cam 24 is formedat one end with a tooth 27 adapted to be engaged by the tooth 28 of adetachable pedal. The pedal preferably comprises a pedal-arm 29 havingat its free end a lateral extension 30 for engagement by the operatorsfoot. The pedal-arm 29 has fixed to its opposite end the enlargedcylindrical head 31 of a shaft-section to which a tubular shaft-section33 is fixed by means of the pin 34. The shaft-section 33 is adapted tobe slipped over the cam-shaft 35 so that its tooth 28 will engage theteeth 27 of the cam-member 24.

To ail'ord reaction pressure for the pedal there is preferably provideda floor rest 36 having a foot 37 and bearing boss 38 journaled on theshaft 32. A spring 39 is coiled around the shaft-head 31 and is anchoredat one end l0 to the arm 29. The other end of the spring 39 bearsagainst the car 41 of the member 36. When the pedal 29 is depressed thecam-face 2;; will lift the rod 20 which has lined to its upper endportion a lateral arm l2, Fig. 3, extending into the cavity of the tableLh rough the slot 43 in a "aide-plate all. A spring 15 surrounding therod 20 within the table-leg and bearing downwardly upon the hub of thearm 42 insures retention of the rod 20 in engagement with the face 2 3of the lifting cam 24. The arm 42 carries an adjustable lifting screw16.

llingcd at l? on the bracket 48, is a lever l9 having an enlarged endupon which rests the lower end of an inclined arm 51 lixed to therocking and endwisc movable shaft which is journaled in the bracket 53;the screw ll; being in lifting engagement with the lever 49. The shaft52 is projected into an aperture in the machine base 10 and over thecontroller rock-shaft 16 and is formed with coupling means in the formof an end shoulder 54:, Fig. T. which engages complementary couplingmeans in the form of the tooth 1.8 of the collar 17. The rod 20, whenlifted, will swing the lever l9 upwardly and lift the inclined arm .31,thus rocking the shaft and the controller-shaft 16.

When the outfit is not in use the shaft 52 may be withdrawn from thecontroller rockshaft by means of the handle and turned to carry its arm51 clear of the lever -19 and the shank of the handle into engagementwith the retaining notch 56 in the bracket 53, as shown in Fig. l; thewithdrawal of the shaft 52 being cll'ccted against the pressure of thespring 57. In this position of the parts, the end of the shaft 52 is Hi!I clear of the base 10 so as not to interfere with the removal of theunitary portable sewing machine assembly from its position on the shelf7. The shaft is also disconnected from the pedal mechanism.

The controller operating mechanism thus mechanical skill; the mere actof attachment of the hollow leg 3 to the table correctly locating thescrew 46 relative to the respective coacting follower element 49.

a unitary assembly, and a manually oper-' ated mechanism permanentlymounted in said table and including a connection projectible across andbelow an edge of sald recess and into said portable base for op-,

erative engagement with said motor-controh ler, said connection beingwithdrawable to permit removal of the portable sewing machine unitaryassembly.

2. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a table having anapertured top, a sewing machine of the portable type'removably receivedwithin said apertured top and comprising a sewing head, a portable basetherefor, a motor for driving the sewing ma-- chine and a motorspeed-controller mounted within and above the bottom of said portablebase and including a controller rockshaft accessible through an aperturein a side-wall of said base, and controller operating mechanismpermanently carried by said table independently of said portable baseand including an element removably projectible into the aperture of saidbase for operative connection with said controller rock-shaft.

3. A sewing machine table having an apertured top, a sewing machine ofthe portable type removably received within the aperture in said top andincluding a sewing head, portable base, motor and motorcontroller, thelatter being mounted in said portable base and including an operatingrock-shaft accessible through anaperture in said base, a manuallyoperated rocking and endwise movable shaft journaled in said table inalinement with said controller operating rock-shaft, and means forcoupling said shafts, said manually operated shaft being slidable topermit its withdrawal from the aperture in said base prior to removal ofthe sewing machine from the table.

4. A sewing machine outfit comprising a table, a portable electricsewing machlne seated as a unitarily removable assembly on said tableand including a sewing head, portable base, motor and motorspeed-controller, manually operated means permanently carried by saidtable, and a couplin device for disconnectibly connecting said means tosaid controller, said coupling device belng shiftable to an inoperative0S1- tion in which it is disconnected irom 0th the controller and saidmanually operated means. 7

5. A sewing machine table having a top and legs, said top beingapertured to receive the base of a motor-driven sewing machine ot theportable type, a shelf carried by said table below said aperture andadapted to support the sewing machine, and manually operated meanspermanently installed in said table and including a rock-shaft endwise.movable for projection into an aperture in the sewing machine base andconnection with a motor-controller within said portable base.

6. The combination with a portable electric sewing machine including aportable base, sewing head, motor and motor-controller mounted in saidbase and having an operating rock-shaft accessible through an aperturein the side wall of said base, of a table having legs and a topapertured to removably receive'said base, and manual FREDERICK DIEHL.

